Sunday Snippet

This will actually be a few Sunday's worth of snippets - I've been collecting. (Also, don't forget to check out this post! Surely someone wants something awesome sent them from the UK!)

I love my new ward. From the first time I walked in (a little late - it's WAAAY out-of-the-way) the members have been friendly and welcoming, and incredibly positive and upbeat.  This is a seriously happy ward.  Teeny - I doubt that we get even a hundred people out to Sacrament meeting, and a family that moved in around the same time I did doubled the Primary with their four kids - but really cheerful, and supportive, and considerate of each other.  Someone is always walking up and introducing themselves, or just saying hello and how was your week, or hugging.  Good times.

Jan. 9, 2011 (I'm trying to get in the habit) - "Faith is always pointed towards the future." (Sacrament meeting talk.)

Sunday School - We were talking about Elisabeth and Zacharias, and what happened to Zacharias in the temple, and one of the things I realized is that Z gets a bit of a bad rap, but not quite for the right reason. After all, his response to the message ("How can my wife have a child? We're too old for that!") is really perfectly rational and logical. The thing is not his response to the Lord's message, it's his response to the situation - temple, Holy of Holies, ANGEL.  This is not typical.  I think Zacharias was responding to what he thought he knew ("too old for children") instead of really listening to and feeling what he was being told.  When the Lord speaks we have to get out of our own heads and pay attention to what He says and the Spirit confirms, and not our own experience.

Jan. 16 - "The Scriptures:  Celestial Google."

"Pride is what leads us into temptation when we know better."

Remember - we are not interested in a "fair fight" with Satan. We are interested in stacking the deck, stockpiling supplies and armaments, and prevailing from the high ground. We must not allow Satan any footholds or advantages. (You also don't have to mix your metaphors - that's just me.)

"We do not discover humility by thinking less of ourselves, we discover it by thinking less about ourselves."

- It was Ward Conference, and the pianist was home sick. I volunteered to play prelude music, and immediately realized just how rusty I was on the piano. I was then drafted to play for Relief Society, and asked if we could do "Called to Serve" because it at least sort-of applied to the topic, and I was fairly sure I could play it (due to a long-ago traumatic Seminary experience that I won't go into here).  Turns out I was almost right.  Inaccuracies aside, I did play with gusto, and this got the 65+ chorister so fired up that she started dancing along while she led.  It was HILARIOUS. (She's the sweetest, peppiest, most adorable little old lady I have ever met.  Love her.)  ((I have been practicing the piano at school all week, and even got myself a hymn book and Children's Songbook to work on - just in case.  I'm betting I'll be drafted again at some point.))

Jan. 23 - One of the speakers told a story about being in a cab, and the traffic got snarled up (as it does).  The cabbie asked if he could change the music, and (surprise!) popped in a Christian music CD.  After just a few minutes, the traffic cleared and they were able to continue.  The cabbie matter-of-factly commented on the driving situation by saying, "I changed the music and the Lord blessed me."  This led to a conversation about their respective faiths, with the cabbie giving the member the Christian CD, and the member getting his address to send him a MoTab CD.  Be an example of faith!  And take openings to share and communicate truths when they are given!

- The Relief Society President has a fantastic Scottish accent.  I can't wait until she teaches the whole lesson.

- A 90+ sister (the longest-running member of the ward - 61 years) told me to watch out for Jean (the chorister) as she was the head of the ward's "Looney Club".  I nearly busted up right there in the chapel. I love these people.

This is my current computer wallpaper - it's the Parliament Building and Big Ben from across the Thames, taken around sunset on Jan. 6.  Enjoy!